CONMEN are targeting homes across east Cleveland in number of bogus prize draw scams.

Trading Standards officers have been inundated with calls from people who fear they have been caught out by bogus mail.

And every time the answer is the same: You've been fooled.

Redcar and Cleveland Council's chief trading standards officer Jeff Bell has a database of the various schemes in circulation, either old ones rehashed or variations on a theme.

He said: "Scams can come through the post, by email, text message or fax.

"The issue always provokes one the highest number of complaints. I suppose it's the feeling that may be this the chance to get rich quick. But there's always a sad ending if you follow it through."

One of the latest is the "I fancy you" scam on mobile phones, enticing victims to find out who sent the text message.

No identity is disclosed and the fact that the return call is to a premium rate number is often disguised or absent.

The Government's Department of Trade and Industry is running a campaign, Prize Winner or Prize Fool, with a list of warning signs.

Tactics include:

* A sender who is based overseas

* An unsolicited approach, where you've never contacted the sender before

* An invitation to send a "processing" or "management" fee

* An invitation to send money abroad or to a PO box

* "Prizes" expressed in foreign currency

* Rewards wholly dependent on persuading others to join the scheme

* A very short time to claim the "prize"

* An invitation to buy goods to get a "prize" or reward

* An invitation to claim by using premium rate phone lines, generally starting 090.